Paid to get service dog certification?
 

Did any one see the insider the other night showing , a yorkie,how people pay $150.00 online to buy the certification and service vest to become a service dog?
Reason for service? Emotional support......;)
And to be able to take your dog ANYWHERE, cause service dogs can.and the rich do.

But anyone knows your suppose to go thru training.

Service Dog ??
 

LoL! ........ not so long ago I was sitting in a Mall in Bellingham, WA when a lady with the funniest small dog walked by and the dog was wearing a *Service Dog* vest ..... I said to my Son, Ummmmm, wonder what kind of service that dog performs ..... guess maybe it could have been a *bought* service dog certification and not really a service dog. It is really very unfortunate and totally disgusting if people are taking advantage of something that should be for people who really do need the services of a Service Dog.

On the subject of Service Dogs for *Emotional Support* ........ YES!, that is definitely a genuine need and category of service dogs. It is presently being used by many Canadian Servicemen who are returning from war suffering severe PTSD. Having the Service Dog by their side is allowing these men to return to a useful and happier life. Here is a link if you are interested in reading further ......... I'm in no way associated nor involved, I just found this to be very interesting ............

Service Dogs | Canadian Service Dog Foundation

Rosie's Momma

A service dog and an emotional support animal (ESA) are two very different things.

A service dog is trained to abide by public access standards when it accompanies its handler in public. It performs tasks that help mitigate its owner's disability.

An emotional support animal is more of a dog that provides comfort, and doesn't generally do any trained task for disabilities.

While there is no size limit on an SD, a tiny pup will be limited in certain things. People are also very judgmental because they think if there's nothing physically wrong with you, you just have a 'SD' to you 'can take your dog anywhere'. Not to mention, you need to make sure your dog doesn't get stepped on. What size dog you need depends on the tasks you want the dog to perform. But there ARE service dogs for people with maybe not 'physical' limitations, such as a wheelchair, but autism for example.

Please Don't Pet Me - a good link


ESA handlers do not have public access with their ESAs EXCEPT for housing and airlines due to the Fair Housing Act and the Air Carrier Access Act. So you can live in no-pets housing with them and you can fly with them. I just learned that some states/towns do have public access laws for ESA handlers and parts of California allow ESAs anywhere a service dog is allowed.

Most people who get service dogs and train them themselves are VERY specific in what type of dog they get. They search for the RIGHT breeder and the dog that has that right temperament. You also have to realize that you may get a dog, train it for 2-3yrs, and then it's NOT the right candidate, and be able to access that. It's a hard decision to make when it's your pet dog as well who you have bonded with so most just keep washed out service dogs as pets.

Also SD's don't just need regular basic puppy classes. They need classes specifically for service dogs. They need 1000 times more socialization, more positive experiences, etc... if your pet is spooked by... someone in costume, for example, it's really not a big deal. More of an annoyance. BUT, a service dog that is spooked by something like a shiny floor... that will be a big problem. Finding a GREAT trainer that KNOWS what they are doing is important too. Not your run of the mill petsmart trainer.

Buy just 'buying' a certification online is not good at all. And all will be doing is harming those who truly need SDs to get by in life.

That would be a waste of $150 here.. Robyn brings Gucci every where except restaurants, stores..food and clothing... haven't had a complaint yet...

:thumbup::thumbup:

You may be able to buy fake service dog papers and vests online so your dog can go anywhere, but companies generally have the right to ask what service the dog provides. In that case you'd have to make something up. If you say emotional support then they know your dog doesn't qualify bc ESA are not SD. All you need to do to have an ESA dog is get a letter from your doctor or psychiatrist.

Those places are scams there is no actual registry for service dogs let alone one you have to pay for. All that is necessary is a note from your doctor and your dog has to be trained to do things that help you with your disability. Callie is a psychiatric service dog she is amazing with knowing when my anxiety attacks are happening and helping to calm me down as well as some other things.

Very interesting....do you need to have her wear a vest to take her into normally forbidden places displaying her credentials?

In Ca you are not allowed to ask what service the dog performs. Invasion of privacy which is a big no no here.
I was having lunch with a friend and she brought in her yorkie in a travel bag and put her on the floor under the table. The owner came over and told her that her dog was not allowed in the restaurant. Maggie had not made a sound. My friend pulled out a service card and showed the man. I must have had the most amazed look on my face. I asked my friend what service did Maggie do and she laughed and said, "nothing, she's my little girl". Then she told me where to get a card. Wish I could but Zoey would never be quiet - she loves to greet everyone. Personally, I don't see the harm in taking your little dog into restaurants if the dog is quiet and well behaved.

Service dogs are not required to wear anything specific, but some choose to have them wear vests, or little patches on their harness, or carry a laminated ID card (which anyone can make, there is nothing official). There are TONS of sites online where you can buy all sorts of Service Dog or Therapy Dog or ESD dog stuff. Even Amazon sells service dog patches and other things.

Just to reiterate a very important fact - there is NO REGISTRY for any of these dogs - so anyone trying to sell "official certification" is not telling the truth. Sure, it can be convenient to buy an ID card or paraphernalia or what not, but it's not required.

Any business can ask you if your dog is a service dog, they can also ask you what service it performs. They CANNOT ask you about your disability.

Here is the Disabilities Act that covers Service Animals. I also attached a little card I made for my MIL to carry with her, it's a cheat sheet that covers the Act.

This is interesting bc under Federal Law (the American Disabilities Act), they *can* ask what service the dog performs. They cannot, however, ask anything about your disability.

What takes precedence then....Federal or State?

Federal.

And just for the record, if a company tells you they don't have a restroom "for public use" you can threaten a lawsuit/sue them. Federal ADA law states any company open for retail business has to have a restroom accessible to the public, and it has to be ADA compliant. My husband just had to redo several restrooms to bring them up to ADA code.

The law does not say they have to wear a vest but it's the best thing to do. There is no credentials per say that are necessary. They just need to perform a task that helps you and a doctors letter.

She is the kind of person though who ruins it for those ho really need service dogs the law is you can ask what the dog does but not the disability. There are people who are allergic to even yorkies and if people can bring there small dogs in, in a bag big dog owners are going to want to bring there dogs in.

:thumbup::thumbup: yup yup good post Ann!

I have chester as a service dog for my ptsd, and when I go into places they can ask if it is a service dog and what does the animal do your you, they cannot ask for paper work unless you flying with your dog. I have the info through the ada guidlines. A physician can do paper work for you if you fly